USA, European and Russian Manoeuvring

This is taken from an article in Turkish newspaper Zaman, (29/08/08)

At the heart of Washington’s weapons shield plan, coupled with NATO’s expansion policy, is a classic divide-and-conquer multi layered stratagem.

First layer: Divide the EU from Russia. This is done by placing a firm wedge between Moscow and Brussels -- thus the US scuttles the possibility of a non-confrontation EU approach towards Russia, which could possibly lead to a Europe “whole and free” or, as President Francois Mitterrand once suggested, to an area of prosperity stretching from the “Atlantic to the Urals.”
Washington also seeks to rally its increasingly unruly European partners around the principle of NATO’s collective security blanket, using rhetoric that recalls the old evil empire hegemon as a convenient scarecrow to unify the alliance. Russia’s new bugaboo status in Brussels, only further cows central European states to do Washington’s bidding. This stratagem also impedes any chance the EU may one day cast off Uncle Sam’s stewardship of European defense in favor of a CFSP (common foreign and security policy).

On another level, the US has also sought to divide in the continent between “old” and “new” Europe.

And finally in 2008, with the installation of the missile shield Washington seeks to divide the citizenry from their government. The ruling pro American elite in central Europe persist with the project, giving little or none consideration to public opposition.